This photo shows green fruit rot (caused by Monilinia fructicola) on insect-damaged peaches (photo taken today from fruit collected in an ‘O’Henry’ block at the USDA research station in Byron, GA). I have never personally observed green fruit rot this early, but it does occur from time to time. If insect management has been disrupted due to rainfall, infection by Monilinia can be prevalent, as the insect injury sites serve as infection points. This increase in diseased fruit is also in part due to increased inoculum from blossom blight (also prevalent this year), so this is basically stage 2 of the epidemic. This will set us up for a difficult brown rot year if rainy conditions prevail throughout the season. Producers need to adjust their spray programs with this eventuality in mind. More Captan applications for cover sprays will be warranted, especially if rainfall continues to be excessive, and use of more efficacious preharvest materials is also advised (Merivon, Elite, etc.).
Phil Brannen
Phil Brannen is a Professor in the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia for his undergraduate degree in Plant Protection and Pest Management, where he also received an M.S. in Plant Pathology, followed by a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Auburn University. He has extensive experience with disease management programs in numerous cropping systems. He serves as the extension fruit pathologist for Georgia – conducting research and technology transfer for multiple fruit commodities. His efforts are directed towards developing IPM practices to solve disease issues and technology transfer of disease-management methods to commercial fruit producers. He also teaches the graduate level Field Pathology Course, the History of Plant Diseases and their Impact on Human Societies Course, team-teaches the IPM Course, coordinates the Viticulture and Enology in the Mediterranean Region Course (Cortona, Italy), and guest lectures in numerous other courses throughout the year.